Skip the popcorn, bring the souffle along for this film
If your stomach grumbles during a screening of "Transformers" or "Bruno," do not, I repeat, do not head to "Julie and Julia" on an empty stomach.
The movie, which opens Friday, Aug. 7, weaves the stories of Julia Child, a world famous chef and author of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," and Julie Powell, a modern-day woman who follows Child's 524 recipes in 365 days and writes about her experiences in a blog. The film stars Meryl Streep (pictured) as Julia and Amy Adams as blogger Julie Powell.
A couple of suburban theaters want to make sure your rumblings don't disturb the rest of the audience.
From 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, the Charlestowne 18 Cinema, 3740 E. Main St., St. Charles, will host a French cooking demonstration and commentary with chefs Francois Sanchez and Michelle Fruzyna from the Q-Center conference center in St. Charles.
The lobby demo is free; tickets to the 7:20 showing of the movie cost $5.50-$8.
If you view the movie at Gold Class Cinemas in South Barrington, you can nosh on dishes inspired by Julia Child as you watch the film. Tickets at this plush dinner-theater venue cost $22; the special menu costs extra. (224) 293-1001 or goldclasscimemas.
At 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, Cooking with the Best Chefs invites foodies to Dinner and a Movie at the Muvico Theater, 9701 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont.
The event begins with appetizers at Bogart's Restaurant, on the second level of the theater, dinner at 2:15 p.m. followed by the movie, then back to Bogart's after the movie for dessert. Parking is free at the Muvico Theater garage (with validation). A cash bar will be available.
Call now to get a seat. Tickets cost $59 per person or $105 for couples. Register at bestchefs.com or (630) 359-4600.
Vegetarian celebration: Some 20,000 people are expected to head to Naperville this weekend, Aug. 8-9, for Veggie Fest.
While it might not draw crowds like last month's Rib Fest, Veggie Fest will offer people a chance to learn about the vegetarian lifestyle from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the grounds of the Science of Spirituality Meditation Center, 4S175 Naperville-Wheaton Road.
Displays and demonstrations will address the scope of vegetarian foods and ethic cuisines and how eating a plant-based diet can benefit personal health and the health of the planet. There will also be food vendors, free samples, kids activities and live music.
Admission is free. Head to veggiefestchicagoland.org or call (800) 222-2207 for more details.
Streaming live: Remember the at-home soda-making machine that I wrote about a few weeks ago? Well, I just found out that the Sodastream is available at Kohl's and Williams-Sonoma stores.
I'm warning you: you'll want to carbonate everything you drink. It even worked on Tang!
- Deborah Pankey
• Contact Food Editor Deborah Pankey at (847) 427-4524 or food@dailyherald.com. Listen to her discuss food and restaurant trends on "Restaurant Radio Chicago" from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturdays on WIND 560-AM.